NARRATIVE REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS SEMINAR

Relative to DepEd Memorandum No. 132 s. 2019, which asked school officials of all public
elementary and high schools to conduct various activities related to the Mental Health Awareness, the
Division of Gapan City held a seminar in relation to this on October __, 2019 at Hotel Consuelo in Sta.
Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Arrival of participants started at 8:00 and the seminar started exactly at 8:30. A roll
call from the delegations of each school was done by Ms. Jenny C. Javier through a yell. It was followed
by an opening remarks by the SGOD officer Mrs. Astrida M. Bernabe. She explained the purpose and
importance of this seminar which is help teachers become mentally healthy. She cited some teachers
who committed suicide because of the burdens of works.

Shortly after that, the first speaker was introduced by Aileen Santarina, DMD, Dentist II of the
Gapan City Division. Ms. Liezl R. Astodillo presented the topic for the first half of the morning session
which is about Promoting Well-Being at Work. She started an activity that scores the level of burn out at
work. All participants answered the given questions then total the number of scores that correspond to
their answers. Then, the interpretation of the scores were presented. Surprisingly, there were those
who showed quite high level of stress and burn out. The speaker advised them to take some vacatiom if
burned out. She also explained that this training is done for the following reasons:

1. Stigma
2. Accounted for drug use.
3. Commit suicide
4. 40% of adolescents are depressed
5. Mental disease is connected to physical issues

After citing some symptoms of depression based from the ICD, one of her better advise is to not
bring works at home to give justice to their families. She also explained Republic Act No. 11036, which is
about Mental Health Law that is integrated to teachings but warned that learners should be prepared
before discussing the topic to them. In relation to Psychological Well-Being, she explained the
importance of creating activities and program in workplace that promote physical, social, and stress
management.

The second half of the morning session started with the sharing of experiences by the
participants that cause distress in their workplace. After that, she discussed some factors that
contribute to the distress of the teachers and they are the following:

1. Excessive workloads
2. Negative inter-personnel relationships
3. Low working hours
4. Job security issues
 5. Things you say

One solution to this, as discussed by the speaker, is to respond to distress with the strength
which will give impacts such as being overwhelmed, boredom, being engaged and being auto-pilot.

In the afternoon, the topics were about Focusing on Burnout, Mental Health Law and Flexibility
at Work. Mindfullness was also introduced. It was all about being fully aware of whatever is happening
at the present and avoid focusing in the past and the future.

An activity related to this is given which is rating of the participants with regards to the following:

1. Home environment
2. Work environment
3. Personal growth
4. Relaxation
5. Confidence
6. Physical health
7. Psychological well-being
8. Lifestyle
9. Finances

As a conclusion to that, taking care of oneself and everything will follow. There should be a
balance between personal life and work. That we should be more focused on our present and do not
mind the past and the future. Stressors are always there but there are many ways to deal with them like
exercises that will calm us down.

The seminar was indeed a success because it helps the teachers in enjoying life while working.

Prepared by :

ROCEL B. ROXAS
Teacher II